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Almine Rech

Ayan Farah

Everyone knows what a painting is: paint, pigment or colour applied to a surface. But in Ayan Farah’s hands a painting is much more than just that. In her work that surface often reacts to and records its exposure to light or it might involve a series of fabrics stitched together in a variety of roughly geometrical patterns. And while her paintings are not scientific records, often they are nevertheless a record of the chemistry and environmental conditions of a particular place over a particular time. Ayan Farah’s artworks evade conventional definitions. “I’ve always thought of them as part of an environment,” she says, “not like sculptures but like something that loses physical presence.” The works are how they are – on fabric – in part because that allows them to be portable. Yet wherever you are, however apparently static or fixed the situation, her work seems to say, even when you move away, you still take part of that encounter with you.

- Mark Rappolt

  • Biography

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  • Bibliography

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Selected artworks

  • Ayan Farah, Artemis, 2015

    Ayan Farah Artemis, 2015

    Clay, mud, ink and vegetable dye on linen, hemp and canvas
    220 x 170 cm
    86 5/8 x 66 7/8 in

  • Ayan Farah, Athena, 2015

    Ayan Farah Athena, 2015

    Terracotta and mud on linen and canvas
    220 x 170 cm
    86 5/8 x 66 7/8 in

  • Ayan Farah, Wave, 2014

    Ayan Farah Wave, 2014

    Clay, ink and rainwater on canvas
    210 x 160 cm
    82 5/8 x 63 in

  • Ayan Farah, Untitled (Torn), 2014

    Ayan Farah Untitled (Torn), 2014

    Mud and indian ink on linen
    200 x 90 cm
    78 3/4 x 35 3/8 in

  • Ayan Farah, Wave - Fen, 2014

    Ayan Farah Wave - Fen, 2014

    Clay, mud and rainwater on canvas
    190 x 100 cm
    74 3/4 x 39 3/8 in

  • Ayan Farah, Wave - Delta, 2014

    Ayan Farah Wave - Delta, 2014

    Clay, mud, rainwater and indian ink on canvas
    210 x 160 cm
    82 5/8 x 63 in

  • Ayan Farah, Wave - Mist, 2014

    Ayan Farah Wave - Mist, 2014

    Clay, mud, rainwater and indian ink on canvas
    200 x 150 cm
    78 3/4 x 59 in

  • Ayan Farah, Untitled (Som), 2014

    Ayan Farah Untitled (Som), 2014

    Terracotta on linen
    210 x 160 cm
    82 5/8 x 63 in

  • Ayan Farah, Bay, 2014

    Ayan Farah Bay, 2014

    Clay, mud, ink and rust on canvas  
    240 x 170 cm
    94 1/2 x 66 7/8 in

  • Ayan Farah, Ebb, 2014

    Ayan Farah Ebb, 2014

    Mud, clay and ink on canvas
    240 x 170 cm
    94 1/2 x 66 7/8 in

  • Ayan Farah, RA - Retreat, 2014

    Ayan Farah RA - Retreat, 2014

    Sun faded fabric
    245 x 135 cm
    96 1/2 x 53 1/8 in

  • Ayan Farah, Wave (steady), 2014

    Ayan Farah Wave (steady), 2014

    Terracotta, clay and rainwater on canvas
    210 x 160 cm
    82 5/8 x 63 in

  • Ayan Farah, Wave (earth), 2014

    Ayan Farah Wave (earth), 2014

    Mud and wainwater on canvas
    210 x 160 cm
    82 5/8 x 63 in

  • Ayan Farah, Rain, 2014

    Ayan Farah Rain, 2014

    Clay, mud, rainwater and ink on canvas
    210 x 160 cm
    82 5/8 x 63 in

  • Ayan Farah, Seraphine Safir, 2014

    Ayan Farah Seraphine Safir, 2014

    Clay, mud and ink on linen and hemp
    210 x 160 cm
    82 5/8 x 63 in

  • Ayan Farah, Noma, 2014

    Ayan Farah Noma, 2014

    Clay, ink and pigment on canvas
    170 x 120 cm
    66 7/8 x 47 1/4 in

  • Ayan Farah, Nevada, 2014

    Ayan Farah Nevada, 2014

    Clay, mud and ink on canvas and leather
    170 x 120 cm
    66 7/8 x 47 1/4 in

  • Ayan Farah, Sigrid, 2014

    Ayan Farah Sigrid, 2014

    Clay and terracotta on canvas
    170 x 120 cm
    66 7/8 x 47 1/4 in

Gallery exhibitions

Selected press